The cloud accounting software – FinTech SaaS* – that many accounting professionals are
embracing, learning about – or scared of – is internet based.

That means that the users’ experience is largely dictated by their browser set up and usage habits.

In this article you will be introduced to optimizing your Chrome browser. And then we will run through setting up identities & themes, adding extensions and using tabs &bookmarks to change/add actions. It’s a quick and easy way to make the FinTech SaaS* user experience more productive, less frustrating and create time savings.

Chrome works well with most FinTech SaaS and many FinTech SaaS providers recommend it as the choice browser.

Chrome is a quick browser – it loads and displays pages easily

Seamlessly drag tabs out into separate windows and join them back together with your mouse – especially useful for those of us with dual (or triple) monitors

Google Chrome has a friendly interface, making it easy to use

Chrome will ask if you would like to translate a page from another language

You can search right through your address bar – for Aussie puppy photos (or CRA rules if you insist)

If a site crashes on one of your tabs, other open tabs will not also crash

Set up your settings.

There are many settings you can organize so tasks and preferences are auto-magical.

Settings and customization are accessed through the triple stacked dots, right end of the address bar. There are a variety of “settings” that are visible from the drop down menu.

Create “Identities” for Productivity (email), Accounting, Personal… – you will want to do this!

Synch google accounts to make favourite settings and bookmarks available from multiple devices

Add themes & extensions

Set what windows open when you start up each browser – this is a big time saver, huge in fact

Preset where you want your downloads to go

Check your privacy settings

Create auto-fill(s) – also a big time saver

Customize font and size

Choose whether to save user/password information

TIP! There is a search bar in settings, top centre. Use It! Do not get caught in the time suck of scrolling around looking for the setting you are in need of.

Clear your FinTech cache at least daily!

Really, yes – really! Every day or more! You won’t need to don the tinfoil hat nearly as often if you keep it cleared. Clearing your cache and cookies is like taking all the garbage to dump.

Cloud FinTech, as well as our beloved practice management SaaS, create a ton of garbage. It stinks up your programs. The smell and weight of it makes them all crazy (you’ve experienced it!). Get rid of it.

Let’s make it quick & easy so you do it. Often.

Set up the first bookmark as your cache clearing (see: setting up bookmarks below)

Bookmark using the “star” in the far right of your address bar when you are in a task or page

You can rename, shorten the name or use just an icon to make more bookmarks visible on your browser

Bookmark on the fly, or set it up all ahead of time

You can reorder your bookmarks by dragging

Use new tabs to accomplish tasks simultaneously, keep a transaction open while you check on something else, compare pages or transactions.

The efficiency and workflow management of bookmarks and open tabbing cannot be emphasized enough.

Open a new tab to change tasks

Don’t have too many tabs open

Open a new tab>hit the bookmark

Browser optimization: Setup and Consistent Use.

Clear! Your! Cache!

Refresh your browser (F5 is your new best friend).

Keep in mind that if you make a change to a transaction you have to let any related activities or tasks aware of the change. For example, if you add an expense while you have the bank feed tab open you can’t just go back to the feed and think it will now “match” to the new expense. Refresh (F5) the bank feed tab and then it will show up.

Don’t over task your browser.

This is where multiple identities comes in handy. Have one dedicated to FinTech and one for other uses. Try not to cross pollinate or you will wind up with too many tabs open, stress your cache and lose productivity.

Go Incognito.

Need to jump in on another client file, but don’t want to close out of the one you are in? Is the blue circle of QBO death taking over (even though you cleared your cache)? Go Incognito! Same bookmark bar, but it’s a hidden user so it’s not picking up your current login information.

Need to book a demo or have us set up browsers for optimal efficiency?